PW's Year of Beer: Russian River Supplication

We love beer. That's why we're devoting an entire year to discovering (and drinking) cold ones from near and far. Know of a beer worth shouting out? Send us a note at tips@philadelphiaweekly.com.

Russian River's beers generally aren't available far from their California home; that said, the brewers do have Philly connections that sometimes result in their beers putting in an appearance here, and no other city this side of the Mississippi can boast the same. If you’re a fan of sours, that’s especially good news, because only a few breweries in the United States can match Russian River’s sour ales. Supplication is an interesting one: On its own, this soured brown ale might remind you of Rodenbach Grand Cru, but Russian River takes it a few steps further by aging the beer for a full year in Pinot Noir barrels. Oh, and they add sour cherries, too. The result is a beer with deep complexity: The sourness is fairly restrained, allowing you to uncover hints of fruit and oak, as well as a strong Pinot Noir finish, all of it floating atop a base of chestnut malts. It’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy sours, this beer is essential. Supplication showed up recently at City Tap House for a special Sour Saturday; you'll want to keep an eye out for possible future recurrences.